John Perry Column: One Good Turn

Published 7:00 pm, Tuesday, October 14, 2008

One of my chores a few days ago was to clean my bird feeder and to go purchase some feed for it. It was closer for me to stop at Wal-Mart, but it looked pretty crowded in the parking lot, so I just drove on down to Tractor Supply and found a parking spot very near the entrance. A young lady employee there greeted me with a nice smile and a warm "hello."

I knew where the feed supplies were and proceeded to pick up a 25-pound sack of bird feed. Now there was a time I could have lifted a 100-pound sack much easier than the 25-pound now. The old back, arms and hips are most uncooperative in such activities and are quick to painfully remind me when I do so.

Well, I looked around and there was no cart in sight, and I chastised myself for not getting one when I came in the door, but I did not want to walk all the way back to get one for a measly 25-pound sack of feed. Anyway, I got the sack in my arms and started walking (if my wobbly gait could be called such) toward the checkout stand.

"Are you ready to check out, sir?" a young male employee asked as he approached me, at the same time reaching for the sack of feed.

Now there was a time in the distant past when an act like this would not have been all that unusual, but nowdays such courtesy is a lost art, or at least I thought it was. He carried the sack to the checkout stand and I proceeded to pay for my purchase.

"Where are you parked?" the young man asked, as he once more picked up the sack of feed.

I told him where I was parked and my vehicle description. He carried the feed out ahead of me and stood and waited until I could unlock the vehicle and he loaded it for me. I thanked him as he turned to leave and he told me he was happy to help and to come back and see them again. Believe me, I will go back every time I need something they stock. This really made my day, to be greeted in such a friendly manner and the treatment afterwards is almost unheard of in this day and time.

As I was about to get in my vehicle, a long time acquaintance, Jim West, pulled up beside me and we had a nice visit. We discussed some worldly problems and shared some heartaches and experiences of a personal and family nature. As we parted, Jim complimented me with some words that caught me completely off guard. I will not divulge what he said, just hope and pray that I can be at least a portion of what he said.

Most of us seldom experience a day like this. Wouldn't it be great if this could be an everyday occurence for everyone!